Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 746,820. FATENTED DEC. 15, 1903. N. ,gGOODYEAR.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 3, 1901.

N0 MODEL. I 3 BHEETSSHEET 1.

l l 1 i I 0 e i T a v f wmvzssas @mw w l m: cams PiTERs co, wonummo" msummm 0.14

PATENTS-D DEC. 15, 1903.

v N. GOODYEAR. AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.-

APPLICATION IIL'BD OUT. 3, 1901. I

I 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F0 MODEL.

WI TNE SSE 8 r 23 A l 444/1441 \x PATENTED DEC. 15, 1903'.

N. GOODYEAR. AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLIUATION FILED OUT. 3, 1901.

a SHEETS-81131313.

H0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented December 15, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

NELSON GOODYEAR, 0F FLUs'HINd, NEWYORK, ASSIGNOR To J. B. COLT 00., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ACETYLENE-GAS G ENERAT-O SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 746,820, dated December 5, 1903- Applioation filed October 3, 1901. Serial No. 77,348- (No model.) I

To all whom it n'tay concern:

Be it known that I, NELsON- GOODYEAR, residing at and whose pOst-Office address is Flushing, Long Island, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Generators, (Case E,) of which the following is a specification.

In my pending applications A, B, C,.and D, filed June 24, 1901, and serially numbered 65,811, 65,812, 65,813, and 65,814, 1 have described and claimed certain improvements that are more or less closely related to the present application. 7

The present application relates particularly to improved generators-as, for example, acetylene-generators-and contemplates improvements in means for efiecting and controlling the generation of the gas "and providing means that shall render the apparatus economical, readily taken care of, and thoroughly safe. To these ends the improvements include means for controlling and for regulating the gas-pressure and means for interlocking certain parts, so as to render the operation safe at all stages.

The drawings illustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is an elevation of one form of the apparatus in which the gasometer is separate from the generating chamber or chambers. Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view showing some of the parts, however, in full. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the lefthandportions in full view and the right-hand portions in horizontal sections on the sectionlines 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the carbid-feeding mechanism, showing, however, the lever and its moving parts in full. Fig. 5 is ahorizontal section on the plane 5 5 of Fig. 2. .Fig. 6 is a detail looking toward the right of Fig. 2.

The generating-chamber may consist of the outer vessel 10, water-sealedbell 11, having a neck 12, carrying a carbid-hopper 13, surmounted by the cover 14 of the carbid-charging hopper. These matters are not of the present invention. The gasometer may also consist of an outer vessel 20,within which rises and falls the water-sealed gasometer-bell 21. Preferably beneath the gasometer and contained in the same shell or casing is an automatic gas trap and overflow device, the chamber of which, 30, is divided into compartments by a depending partition 31. One co mpartment is in free communication with the blow-OE to the atmosphere 32, while the other maylead to the service-pipe 33. A U-shaped overflow 34 may be provided. The last-mentioned compartment '35 communicates, by the pipe 36, with the gasometer-chamber, the pipe 36 serving to carry the gas into the compartment 35 and also to drain the gasometerchamber. The gas generated passes through the pipe 40 and-up the pipe 41 into the gas ometer. The pipe 41 is continued down into the trap 30 and water-sealed therein, as shown, so that it drains itself and the pipe 40. In the construction shown the water-sealed bell 11 of the gas-generator rises and falls to partially accommodate the gas generated; but no attempt is made to keep the gas generated at an accurately-constant pressure within the generating-chamber. The gasometer, however, ooaots with the rise and fall of the generatorbell 11 in a manner to'vary the depth of the water seal through which the gas has to pass in going from the pipe 41 into the hell of the gasometer. This automatic seal or trap preferably consists of a telescoping sleeve or cap 42, having a daring lower end-with a serrated edge, and also preferably having holes through the flaring portion, so that the gas on leaving the pipe 41 has to pass down with the cap 42 and escape through the holes or beneath the serrated edge of the cap and overcome the depth of the water seal formed by the body of water in the gasometer-chamber,in which the cap 42 is partially immersed. The'cap 42 is linked, as shown, to a lever 43, which turns on a stationary pivot or fulcrum in the gasometer-chamber.- lVhen the gasometer-bell 21 is high, the cap42 should doscend to a depth of submergence suflicient to give whatever seal is desired. We can assume six inches, forexample, and suppose that pressure in the gasometer is to be kept at about three inches, while that in the generating-chamber may-vary from about nine inches down to atmospheric pressure. pose the pressure in the gas-generating chamber and pipe 40 is nine inches and that in' the gasometer three inches. The gasometerbell will fall as gas is drawn oft through the service-pipe 33. A rod 44, pivoted to the gas- Sup-,

ometer-bell 21 and provided with a pin 45, extends through an opening in the lever 43, as shown. As the gas is drawn out of the gasometer-bell 21 the bell falls until the pin 45 engages the lever 43 and causes the gradual raising of the cap 42. the cap 42 of course diminishes the depth of seal between the generator and the gasometer and allows gas to How from the generatingchamber to the gasometer. This operation may continue until the generator-bell 11 reaches or nearly reaches its lowest point,

whereupon the farther descent of the generator-bell 11 will operate the carbid-feeding mechanism by a suitable instrumentalitysuch, for example, as will be presently described.

It will be observed that by means of the apparatus described the capacity and the vertical movement of the gasometer-bell 21 may be very slight and the gas within it will be kept at a very constant pressure by the weight of the bell, whereas the pressure and volume will vary considerably in the generatingchamber. The rising and falling cap 42 constitutes also a trap for back-trapping the gas when the pressure in the generating-chamber is relieved, for the gas cannot pass in the wrong direction unless water he forced up within the cap 42 to the top of the pipe 41.

The generating-chamber is provided with a safety blow-off pipe 50, over which telescopes the water-sealed sleeve 51 of the rising and falling bell 11. In addition to this the pipe 41, water-sealed in the chamber 30, forms a safety blow-01f for the generator. The compartment 35 constitutes a safety blow-off for the gasometer-chamber, because under an excess of pressure the water-level within the chamber 35 would be depressed beneath the partition 31, allowing the gas to pass freely to the pipe 32.

Surrounding the neck 12 ofthe generatorbell 11 is a drying-chamber 55 in communication with the generating-chamber by apertures 56 in the top of the bell. A sleeve 58, water-sealed at its foot and extending clown around the gas-pipe 40, communicates at its upper end by small apertures with the drying-chamber 55. Thus the gasinstead of passing directly from the generating-chamber through the pipe 40 passes upward through the holes 56 and through the drying-chamber 55 into the sleeve 58 and down the pipe 40.

The carbid is fed from the carbid-hopper 13 by means of a valve 60, connected to be operated by lever 61, provided with a counterweight for closing the valve. A protective casing 62 preferably surrounds and protects the end of the lever which extends into the carbid-chamber. Secured to and rising and falling with the bell 11 is a coarse screen or grid 65,Which alternately passes above and below the water-level, agitating its surface and preventing the formation of floating islands of imperfectly-decomposed carbid.

The lever 61 is actuated by a pin 63, which A slight raising of,

with the pin 63, actuates the valve 60, caus ing the carbid to be dropped into the water until the gas generated again raises the generator-bell 11, and with it the lever 61, clear of the pin 63. The rod 64 is mounted in bearings, so that it may be turned by the handle 66. The lower end of the rod 64 is connected to actuate a valve 67in a by-pass gas connection 68,which extends from the-gas-pipe 40 into the gasometer and has a downturned end 69,

that dips slightly beneath and is water-sealed in the water in the gasometer-chamber. By opening the by-pass valve 67 the gas in the generating-chamber is practically free to pass into the gasometer, the sealing of the end of the pipe 69 being very slight and only serving to prevent the gas passing in the reverse direction or out of the gasometer.

Before drawing down the water in the gasometer-chamber and cleaning it out and recharging it the handle 66 is turned so as to open the valve 67, and thereby discharge substantially all the gas from the generator into the gasometer. When the rod 64 is turned to open the valve 67, the pin 63 is turned out of the path of movement of the lever 61, so that the descent of the generator-bell 11 will not operate the valve 60, and so that consequently the bell may descend to its lowest limit. When the valve 67 is opened widely and the bell 11 has descended to its lowest limit, a second pin 70 on the rod 64 is turned to assume a position directly above the arm of the lever 61, and thereby lock the lever, so that it cannot be raised to actuate the carbid-feeding valve 60. By such means the valve of the by-pass 68 is interlocked with the carbid-feeding mechanism, so that when the valve is closed the carbid-feeding mechanism is in operative adjustment; but when the valve of the bypass is open the carbid-feeding mechanism is locked in its inoperative and closed position. The rod 64 also serves as part of an instrumentality for interlocking the fastening device of the carbid-charging cover with the carbid-feeding mechanism, so that only when the carbid-t'eeding mechanism is locked the fastening mechanism can be detached to open the charging-cover, and so that, conversely, while the fastening device is in the open position the carbid-feeding mechanism remains locked. Turning, preferably, upon a vertical axis is a small rock-shaft 75, provided with an arm 76, having a toe or finger that strikes against a movable stop 77, carried by and moving with the rod 64.- The stop 77 is cut away, as shown, so that it interferes with the movement of the arm- 76 when the rod 64 is turned into position to allow the valve mechanism to operate and to close the bypass valve 67, but clears the end of the lever 76 and leaves it free to be moved when the rod 64 is turned to lock the valve mechanism and open the by-pass valve 67. Preferably upon the upper end of the rock-shaft is carried a notched disk 78, through the notch of which a pivoted dog or plate 79 is free to move only when the arm 76 is brought to that position in which the stop 77 normally interferes with, as described-that is to say, the rod 64 must be turned to lock the feed mechanism and open the valve 67 before the notch in the disk 78 can be brought in position to receive the dog 79. The dog 79 is pivotally connected, as, for example, by a link 80,wi th the yoke or fastening device 81 of the carbid-charging cover, and the fastening device cannot be moved to permit the opening of the cover except when the dog 79 is free to move into the notch in the disk 78. In the posit-ion shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the parts are in their operative position when the generator is working, and as seen in Fig. 3 the notch in the disk 78 is not in position to allow the carbid-charging cover to be opened. When, however, the rod 6-1 is turned so as to permit the arm 76 to be brought in line with it and the notch of the disk 78 to be brought into position to receive the dog 79, then the carbid-charging cover can of course be opened. As soon as the dog 79 enters the notch in the disk 78 it of course prevents any change of position of the arm 76, and this in turn prevents the tnrning of the rod 64 to release the valve mechanism or close the by-pass valve '67 until the dog 79 has been again withdrawn from the notch in the disk 78.

Of course the designs of these combined inst-rument-alit-ies for interlocking the charging-cover, the carbid feeding mechanism, and the by-pass valve may be greatly varied at will. The details of the charging-cover itself and the means by which it is secured form part of the subject-matter of my earlier applications mentioned above, and are not therefore claimed in this application.

Certain accessoriessnch, for instance, as means to refill the generator and for letting air in and out, being details familiar to those skilled in the art-are not illustrated or described, as they do not aid the understanding of the invention.

I do not herein alaima gasonieter having means for regulating the admittance of gas thereto independently of the gas-pressure in the generating-chamber, as it is not proper subject-matter to be claimed in this application,together with the remaining claims therein, but I reserve the right to make a separate application for such subject-matter, divided out of this application.

The characteristic features that form the subject-matter of the present application are set forth in the following claims:

1. In a gas-generating apparatus, the com bination of a gas-generating chamber, a gasometer, a passage-way for conducting the gas from the generating-chamber to the gasometer, a regulator for the said passage-way, a by-pass connection for admitting the gas to the gasometer without its passing the regulater, and means for opening and closing the by-pass.

2. In a gas-generating apparatus, the combination of a gas-generating chamber, means for feeding carbid, a gasometer, a passageway for conducting the gas from the generating-chamber to the gasometer, a regulator for the said passage-way, a by-pass con nection for ad mitting the gas to the gasometer without its passing the regulator, a .valve for the bypass and an instrumentality for adjusting the said carbid-feediug means to an inoperative position when the by-pass valve is. opened.

3. In a gas-generating apparatus, the combination of a gas-generating chamber, automatic carbid-feeding means, a gasometerchamber, a passage-way for normally conducting the gas to the gasometer-chamber when the apparatus is operating, a passage- .way for independently admitting the gas from the generating-chamber to the gasometer-chamber, and an instrumentalit-y for permitting or stopping the flow of gas through the last-said passage-way and connections therefrom for adjusting the carbid-feeding means to an inoperative position when the gas is free to pass through the last-said passage-way.

4:; In a gas-generating apparatus, the combination of a gas-generating chamber, a carbid -hopper supported upon a neck that forms a. reduced extension upward of the said chamber, carbid-feeding mechanism, a gaspipe for leading elf the gas generated in the said chamber, an annular gas-drying chamber situate around the said neck and in com mu nicatiou with thegenerating-chamber, and a water-sealed sleeve extending downward around the end of the said gas-pipe and in communication with the said dryingchamber.

5. In a gas-generating apparatus, the combination of a gas-generating chamber, a carbid -hopper supported upon a neck that forms a reduced extension upward of the said chamber, carbid-feeding mechanism, a gaspipe for leading off the gas generated in the said chamber, a water-sealed sleeve around said pipe, an annular gas-drying chamber situate around the said neck and in communication with the generating-chamber and with the said gas-pipe through the watersealed sleeve,whe reby the gas passes through thesaid annular drying-chamber to'reach the said pipe.

Signed this 1st day of October, 1901, at New York, N. Y.

NELSON GOODYEAR.

Witnesses:

E. VAN ZANDT,

HAROLD BRINNEY. 

